Pressure Point MTG Card

Pressure Point provides flexibility and can disrupt opponents’ strategies at instant speed. The card supports both aggressive and defensive plays, enhancing its deck versatility. Despite its pros, Pressure Point might be less efficient compared to alternative cards.

Fate Reforged (FRF)
2015-01-23 - Number 21

Kaladesh (KLD)
2016-09-30 - Number 23

Mystery Booster (MB1)
2019-11-07 - Number 201

Zendikar Rising (ZNR)
2020-09-25 - Number 33

The List (PLST)
2020-09-26 - Number FRF-21

Card sets	Released in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Common
Type	Instant

Text of card

Tap target creature. Draw a card.

By studying dragon anatomy, Jeskai monks have learned how to locate clusters of nerves that will incapacitate even the mightiest dragons.

Cards like Pressure Point

Pressure Point is an intriguing tactical card in the MTG universe that provides both immediate board impact by tapping an opponent’s creature and an added benefit of card draw. In the realm of MTG tap-down effects, Frost Breath is a comparable card that can tap not one, but two creatures. While Frost Breath affects more targets, it lacks the card draw aspect that Pressure Point offers, making Pressure Point a more versatile choice in decks seeking to maintain card advantage.

Another card that shares similarities is Blinding Beam, which also presents the option to tap creatures and thus prevent them from blocking or attacking. Blinding Beam can affect all creatures of the opponent for a higher mana cost and has the entwine mechanic for additional versatility. However, this does not provide the immediate card draw that Pressure Point gives, potentially making Pressure Point a better fit for a deck focused on tempo and maintaining hand size.

Each of these cards can play a strategic role in different scenarios, but Pressure Point’s dual ability to disrupt an opponent’s board state while replacing itself in a player’s hand is a valuable asset in many MTG gameplans, particularly in decks that aim to win through incremental advantage.

Cards similar to Pressure Point by color, type and mana cost

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Pressure Point does not directly allow you to draw multiple cards, it does contribute to card advantage by temporarily removing an opposing creature from combat, which could prevent the need to draw into another answer.

Resource Acceleration: Although Pressure Point doesn’t directly accelerate your resources in terms of adding mana, it streamlines your turns by efficiently dealing with an opponent’s threat at low cost, preserving resources for more pivotal plays later on.

Instant Speed: Playing at instant speed offers flexibility, making Pressure Point a tactical card that can be woven into your strategy at a moment’s notice, potentially disrupting your opponent’s combat calculations and preserving the integrity of your game plan.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Whereas Pressure Point doesn’t directly demand a discard, its role in a deck can indirectly pressure a player to forego other cards. Holding onto it for the ideal target may lead to missed opportunities or discarding others when hand size limits come into play.

Specific Mana Cost: Pressure Point’s mana cost is color-specific, requiring one white mana. This could restrict its inclusion in multi-color decks that might struggle to produce the necessary white mana consistently or prefer to reserve that mana for other strategic plays.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana, including one white, for a relatively mild tap and draw effect, Pressure Point can be less mana-efficient compared to other options. Quick removal or more impactful control spells at similar mana costs could offer greater value to a player’s strategy.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Pressure Point can be a handy tool in several deck archetypes. Its ability to tap down a target creature can support both aggressive strategies to prevent blockers and defensive tactics to disrupt opponent’s attacks, making it a flexible card in various situations.

Combo Potential: Not only does it offer control by tapping, but the card also provides card draw. This dual nature means it can synergize with strategies emphasizing drawing cards or with combos that require specific pieces, as it can help cycle through the deck faster.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where tempo plays a significant role, Pressure Point could potentially shift the pace of the game. Its low cost and instant speed give it relevance in matchups where timing and efficiency are crucial to gaining an advantage over the opponent.

How to Beat

Pressure Point has found its niche in the tactical plays of Magic: The Gathering with its dual purpose of disrupting an opponent’s momentum while replenishing the player’s hand. This card’s strength lies in its ability to tap a target creature, which can be pivotal in delaying your opponent’s strategy, particularly in stalling formidable attackers or blockers for a turn. Additionally, the card draw that accompanies it ensures that your hand doesn’t deplete, maintaining card advantage.

When strategizing against Pressure Point, the key is to anticipate and neutralize its tempo play. Counterspells are your prime defense, rendering this tactic ineffective if you’re playing a deck with blue mana. Alternatively, cards that grant your creatures haste or untap abilities can quickly nullify the impact of being tapped down. Building redundancies in your creature lineup also minimizes the setback from a single creature being temporarily sidelined. Even including instant-speed removal or protection spells could help preserve your board state against such delaying actions.

Overall, while Pressure Point can briefly curve the match’s momentum, a well-prepared deck with the right countermeasures can easily overcome this hurdle, making the card’s effect a temporary concern at best.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pressure Point MTG card by a specific set like Fate Reforged and Kaladesh, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Pressure Point and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Pressure Point Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2015-01-23 and 2020-09-25. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2015-01-23	Fate Reforged	FRF	21	2015	Normal	Black	Chase Stone
2	2016-09-30	Kaladesh	KLD	23	2015	Normal	Black	Jakub Kasper
3	2019-11-07	Mystery Booster	MB1	201	2015	Normal	Black	Chase Stone
4	2020-09-25	Zendikar Rising	ZNR	33	2015	Normal	Black	Caio Monteiro
5	~~2020-09-26~~	The List	PLST	FRF-21	2015	Normal	Black	Chase Stone

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pressure Point has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Commander	Legal
Modern	Legal
Pauper	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Penny	Legal
Timeless	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Pressure Point card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2020-09-25	If the target creature is an illegal target by the time Pressure Point tries to resolve, the spell doesn't resolve. You don't draw a card. If the target is legal but doesn't become tapped (most likely because it's already tapped), you do draw a card.